Looking back on 16 years being associated with the Compliance Institute. As I look back with great fondness on my time with the Institute, I am very proud to have experienced first-hand, how like the butterfly, we have evolved from our earliest days through many different structures to our current form.

My time started with the Diploma in Compliance in 2006; I went on to complete my exams in 2007 and then started to attend the workshops and other CPD events. It was a very different organisation in those days with the Executive consisting of two staff members supported by the Membership Events and Communications Committee (MEC).

During this time I built up my compliance contacts and my network started to expand. I was invited to join the MEC in 2009 and soon found myself as ViceChair, which started my very rewarding association with the Executive team. Then in 2010, with the Chair moving on to other projects outside of compliance I found myself Chair of the MEC. We were a very small team that worked with the Executive supporting the membership with the delivery of CPD events, conference and social events. At the time we were delighted with ourselves for running six CPD events a year, these humble beginning pale in comparison to the excellent CPD and educational offering we have for members today.

During my time I have also been privileged to:

I have had a unique position to witness the changes and tremendous hard work by the Executive, directors/Council members, working groups and committee members all of whom have held the beacon that has always been at the centre of our ethos and continues to be as strong today, to help equip our members with relevant knowledge, skills and courage so that they can be the shining light and moral compass for their organisations and the financial services industry in Ireland as a whole.

We have always sought to raise the bar for our members, and it has always impressed me of the contribution made by so many over the years to help make this possible. I am a firm believer that we stand on the shoulders of those that went before us and must prepare ourselves for those that follow us to stand on our shoulders. To that end I would like to thank all of you in the Executive and membership that have helped, supported and guided me, as I look forward to continuing to help and support those that follow. I am very proud of the Institute we have helped to build and I now look forward to witnessing our continuing development, to ensure we remain true to our principles in the years to come.

Chair of Compliance Institute's Membership Committee